Around the OHL: Windsor Spitfires putting last year behind them
The Windsor Spitfires are racing
to the start of the season, due to the
fact that they had the worst postseason
in the Ontario Hockey
League.
After an early exit for the 2012 Playoffs, a series sweep at the hands of the London Knights, the Spitfires had a relatively quiet summer. Heading towards training camp, the biggest story of the offseason in the OHL broke out: the Ontario Hockey League levied fines totaling $400,000 against the Windsor Spitfires Hockey Club, in addition to taking away three first-round draft selections and two second- round draft selections from them.
OHL commissioner David Branch was quoted on the OHL website as saying, "The League conducted two separate investigations led by our director of security and enforcement, and in considering all the facts, I was persuaded that the Windsor Spitfires Hockey Club violated the League's Player Benefit and Recruitment Rules and Policies. While the penalties may appear to be severe, the League and its Member Teams recognize for any such violations of our Recruitment/Benefit Rules and Policies, we must send a strong message to preserve the integrity of our League."
Details of the Spitfires' violation are still unavailable.
Strong Message?
Say what you want about the integrity of the League, what I see from this statement by David Branch is: if we think you are doing something wrong based on unreleased facts, you're going to regret doing whatever those things may be, in this case Recruitment/Benefit Rules and Policy violations.
The league wouldn't fine the team $400,000 as a slap on the wrist, and I'm sure the Windsor Spitfires will do their best to avoid the situation in the future.
Do you ever not regret doing something, but just regret getting caught?
The Spitfires lose their next three first-round selections, along with their next two-second round picks in the OHL priority selection (draft). We might see the next Taylor Hall or Ryan Ellis in the next few years, but we will never know until the time comes. What we will know is that the Windsor Spitfires will be watching from the sidelines (or bench).
It's a black eye for the Windsor Spitfires Hockey Club, and we will see how they respond. Initially, the team is looking for an appeal process, but lately, they've focused on training camp. In late August, they donated $9,000 to a minor hockey club in the Windsor area, interacting with the community; unfortunately we don't pick up on the positive stories around the OHL too often.
I don't have any sympathy for the Windsor Spitfires. There are rules in the OHL, and the Spitfires broke those rules, according to league officials. I'm glad that Windsor was made an example of, because I have a tough time believing that the Windsor Spitfires are the only team to be violating the Recruitment/Benefit Rules and Policies.
After an early exit for the 2012 Playoffs, a series sweep at the hands of the London Knights, the Spitfires had a relatively quiet summer. Heading towards training camp, the biggest story of the offseason in the OHL broke out: the Ontario Hockey League levied fines totaling $400,000 against the Windsor Spitfires Hockey Club, in addition to taking away three first-round draft selections and two second- round draft selections from them.
OHL commissioner David Branch was quoted on the OHL website as saying, "The League conducted two separate investigations led by our director of security and enforcement, and in considering all the facts, I was persuaded that the Windsor Spitfires Hockey Club violated the League's Player Benefit and Recruitment Rules and Policies. While the penalties may appear to be severe, the League and its Member Teams recognize for any such violations of our Recruitment/Benefit Rules and Policies, we must send a strong message to preserve the integrity of our League."
Details of the Spitfires' violation are still unavailable.
Strong Message?
Say what you want about the integrity of the League, what I see from this statement by David Branch is: if we think you are doing something wrong based on unreleased facts, you're going to regret doing whatever those things may be, in this case Recruitment/Benefit Rules and Policy violations.
The league wouldn't fine the team $400,000 as a slap on the wrist, and I'm sure the Windsor Spitfires will do their best to avoid the situation in the future.
Do you ever not regret doing something, but just regret getting caught?
The Spitfires lose their next three first-round selections, along with their next two-second round picks in the OHL priority selection (draft). We might see the next Taylor Hall or Ryan Ellis in the next few years, but we will never know until the time comes. What we will know is that the Windsor Spitfires will be watching from the sidelines (or bench).
It's a black eye for the Windsor Spitfires Hockey Club, and we will see how they respond. Initially, the team is looking for an appeal process, but lately, they've focused on training camp. In late August, they donated $9,000 to a minor hockey club in the Windsor area, interacting with the community; unfortunately we don't pick up on the positive stories around the OHL too often.
I don't have any sympathy for the Windsor Spitfires. There are rules in the OHL, and the Spitfires broke those rules, according to league officials. I'm glad that Windsor was made an example of, because I have a tough time believing that the Windsor Spitfires are the only team to be violating the Recruitment/Benefit Rules and Policies.
